Better News Podcast Ricky Alcantar - Cross of Grace Church

As a little child, your idea of grandeur is somewhat limited. You may remember a friend's house as a mansion only to realize as an adult that it was a two-story house while yours had only a ground-floor. In comparison to God's plan for our lives, our perspective is that of a child. We may have desires that go unfulfilled because the Lord has a greater purpose for us, a life that we can't even imagine for ourselves. Today we will see God's people struggle with their inability to trust God's plan and promises.

When you’re in the thick of it, it may seem impossible to see the forest for the trees. That's where we are in Exodus today, when Moses and the people are being even more oppressed by Pharaoh. It feels like there's no way out. Even Moses will begin to waver, wondering why all this is happening. But God is great even when we’re wondering about the next chapter in our story. We may feel stuck on a particular page but He has already written a happy ending for us.

God is not only a sovereign God but He is a holy God who gives us exactly what we need. The Bible tells us that we are sinners and because of that sin, we’re hopeless. We can't save ourselves. God is eternal and God can save us. No one else except for Him, through his Son Jesus Christ, can save. Jesus went to the cross for you and for me. He is the hope that we need. He will save you from your sin so the question is, do you know Him?

Today we’ll learn five characteristics of God. We will hear from the book of Exodus that God is the exact God that we need but not always the God that we want. He is in control. He is a sovereign God. When we suffer or go through a difficult time this should provide peace and comfort. Often we don't know what to do or how to fix the situation however, the God who is Sovereign over all things has everything under His care. Trust in Him today.

Today we are reminded of just how bad the Israelites were treated. The Bible says they were reduced to severe slavery. They were crying out and groaning to God. It then says that God heard their cry and remembered his covenant with Abraham. God hears your prayers as well. God knows your sorrow, He knows your circumstances. When you cry, He's listening and He's ready to keep His promises to you. Turn to Him.

Today Pastor Ricky will teach about groaning. We might groan because we've been sinned against, or we might groan because we have sinned. In today's message, we will hear that Moses committed a terrible sin. Therefore Moses fled to a new land. Moses thought he'd escaped his sin but in actuality, it cost him to groan for something more. Moses was groaning because he was not home. Moses did not belong to the land where he found himself just like we really don't belong here.